Selective vending machine



Oct. 31, 1939. A. E. slEHRs SELECTIVE VENDING MACHINE Filed June 3, 193s2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Oct. 3l, 1,939

UNITED STATES v"PATENT OFFICE A 2,17s,000 sELEoTlvE VENDING MACHINEArthur E. Siehrs, Chicago, Ill. Application June 3, 193s, serial N0.211,572

7 Claims.

This invention relates tohcoin controlled vending machines, andparticularly to an automatic selective vending machine. g

The object of this invention is to provide a machine which is adapted tovend packaged articles and particularly liquids in upright containers,and to provide the purchaser with a. choice of products, flavors orbrands, all in a single compact machine. Thus, for example, if themachine is to be used to vend pop, the person dropping a coin .mayselect any one of the number or types of pop contained. Again, if themachine is to be used to sell bottles of milk, the buyer may select notonly white or chocolate milk, but may also obtain pints or quarts ifdesired. l

Other objects relate to the common supporting and lstoring means for thecontainers, the segregation of their classes, the means for selectivelycausing the desired article to be moved into delivery position, theautomatic selective control means, the automatic coin actuation of themachine and the methods of preventing successive delivery of more thanone container fo a single coin.

Further objects relate to the economy of operation, the storage capacityof the machine, and the various details of construction and arrangementof parts, which will be apparent from a consideration of the followingspecification and the drawings, wherein.:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my selective vending machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the delivery chute andadjacent parts illustrating a container indeli'vered position. I

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating .the Aelectrical controlcircuit.

Referring to the drawings, I0 indicates generally the exterior housingof my selective vending machine, which may be supported on a suitablebase or legs. rThe interior of the machine is conveniently divided intotwo compartments, the lower compartment II housing the gears, motor,refrigerating equipment, etc., whereas the upper compartment I2 isprovided with an inner body I3 so that insulating material I4 may beutilized. The top of compartment I2 is closed with a like insulatedcover I5, thus providing a closed chamber insulated against heat andcold,

and which may thereby be more emciently kept refrigerated to cool andpreserve the articles to be vended, particularly when they areperishable, as. for example, milk.

The base I6 of compartment I2 is provided 6 with or formed of a smoothsurface, such as, for example, non-corrosive polished metal, and formsthe support for the.various classes of containers to bel dispensedWithin the confines of annular upsta'nding retaining rim I1. This rim l0I1 is of sumcient height to" prevent a container from being carried overit during the operation of the machine, and further acts to assist the'guiding of the containers within its confines to delivery position ashereinafter set forth.

Extending axially of the disc-like portion of the base I6 comprehendedby the rim I1 is the shaft I8, to the upper end of which is secured thehub I9 carrying a plurality of spoke-like deector arms 20. 'I'hesedeector arms extend 20 transversely across the confined portion of thebase I6 to at least the guide rim I1, and are positioned adjacent to thesupporting base and of suiiicient height to prevent containers fromcrossing over them during the operation of the 25- machine. It will alsobe seen that these deflector arms divide the confined supporting areainto a plurality of chambers, the contents of which may bek'epteffectively separated between pairs of adjacent arms and thesegment of guide rim comprehended by them. Also it will be evident thatalthough I have illustrated four deiiector arms to provide four chambersto result in a machine allowing four selections, selectivity may beobtained by providing two or more deector arms of similar design toproduce a machine of desired selectivity. The shaft I8 is suitablyjournaled adjacent the hub I9 by means of a suitable roller bearingv2|for ease in operation, and means for rotating 40 it and the deilectorarms is provided in the lower compartment II, such as the motor 22' andthe gears 23, 24 and 25, the latter being securedy to the shaft I8.Within this compartment, although not shown, may conveniently becontained refrigeration equipment and other appurtenances. Forease ofoperation it may be found expedient to have the defiector armslieagainst. the base I6, over which they may smoothly slide, or they may besupported adiacent their outer ends by means of the rim I1, or in anyother suitable manner. The enclosed portion of the base I6 may also bein the form of a separate fixed disc, and may have a slight 55 downwardslope from its center outwardly to the rim.

Each of the deiiector arms comprises ,an arcuate portion extending fromthe hub I9 to a point spaced approximately the Width of a container fromthe rim I1, and thereafter is formed with a scoop portion 26 terminatingat the rim I1, and which comprises one leg which is substantiallyparallel to the rim I1 and of a length approximately equal to the widthof a container and a second leg extending radially therefrom to the rimI1. It will be understoodfthat this scoop 26 may be formed other than bymeans of the two angular portions and may be cup shaped, the curvaturethereof being the reverse o! the arm 28. The curvature of the arms 28 issuch I that if an object supported on the smooth base I6 is placed infront of the arms and the arms rotated clockwise, the opposing forcesare such as to eventually move the container to the outer end' of thearm, and into the scoop 26 where a single container is retained duringrotation.

The included portion of the base I6 is provided adjacent the rim I1 andinteriorly thereof with a trap door 21. This trap door is normally heldclosed by means of the magnetic lock 28, and is provided with a smoothsurface and beveled edges and fits closely into the opening 29 in thebase I6, so that containers may be freely carried thereover untilrotation of the arms 28 is stopped. The trap door may be rectangular ordisc-like in shape and is of sufficient width or diameter to permit asingle container to drop through when positioned thereon by means of astopped scoop 26 and the lock 28 caused to open.

For selective operation of the machine a selector arm 38 is provided onthe exterior of the machine which may be pivoted to contact with aselective tap governing the dispensing operation for each class ofcontainer to be dispensed. Thus in the illustration, the selector armmay be turned to contact either of the taps 3l, 32, 33 or 34 leading tothe breaker switches 35, 38, 31 and 38 respectively, the multiple tapswitch being preferably of the continuous type so that there is nocurrent break or passing from one tap to the other. The breaker switchesare mounted interiorly of compartment I2 on the wall I3 thereof in avertically aligned arrangement with respect to each other and extend outequally to a point adjacent the trap door 21 and tothe right thereof.

Each of the scoops 26 is provided with an end portion which extendsupwardly to a different height from that of another scoop, as at 39, 40,4I and42, and then outwardly and over the lrim I1, the heights of theseend or finger portions being equal respectively to the vertical po-.

f sition of the breaker switches 35, 38, '31 and 38 and their outwardextensions being of suiilcient length to engage the rocker arms of therespective switches momentarily as the deiiector arms are rotated, andas the scoops approach registration with the trap door.

To actuate the machine a coin chute 43 is positioned exteriorly thereof,and upon insertion of a proper coin the switch 44 is caused to close.The coin box is preferably oi the type which keeps the circuit closedwhen operated, and when the circuit is otherwise broken the switch opensand the coin is deposited. However, if the circuit is not broken withina fixed time limit, such as the time required to make two completerevolutions of the arms, the coin is returned.

Thus to selectively operate the machine wherein may be held containersof the commodities 45, 46, 41 and 48, and it is desired to purchasecommodity 45, the selector arm 38 is turned to the marked tap 3| whichleads through breaker switch 35. A coin is then deposited in the coinchute which closes switch 44 and completes the circuit to the motor,causing the defiector arms to be rotated clockwise. As previously setforth, the rotation of the deflector arms moves the containers outwardlyto the rim I1 andpositions one container in a scoop 26.

Since the switches 36, 31 and 38 `are not in the circuit the defiectorarm extensions 48, 4I and 42 in rotating past them do not break thecircuit, but as the extension 39 breaks the switch 35 the circuit isbroken, stopping the motor and permitting the container 45 to stop onthe trap door 21. The breaker switches as will be noted in Fig. 5 arepositioned suiiiciently' away from the approach side of the trap door toallow for the lag of the motor and movement of the load to permit therelease of the breaker arm and to register the scoop with the trap door.As the switch is broken, the magnetic lock 28 is deenergized and springsthe trap door 21. permitting the container 45 to drop through theopening 29 into the delivery chute or chamber 49 onto the cushion padThe under side of the trap door is provided with additional -circuitmaking means such as the tiltable mercury switch 5I, which is normallyclosed when the door is urged upwardly by itsl spring hinge 52. However,as

- shown in Fig. 4, when the trap door is opened by the descent of acontainer the circuit remains broken until the container is removed, andprevents actuation of the machine and multiple delivery therefrom.

In order to insure proper operation of the machine, an additional switch53 of the breaker arm type or any other suitable kind is positioned on,or through an aperture in the retaining wall I1 at the portion thereofwhere the trap door 21 touches it, and preferably adjacent to the seriesof vertically spaced breaker arms 35, 38, 31 and 38. This switch 53 isplaced in the circuit parallel to the paths of all of the aforesaidbreaker arms so that the breaking of any one of the respective breakerarms will not open the circuit unless the switch 53 is simultaneouslyopened. If, however, switch 53, and one of the selectively routedswitches 35, 38, 31A or 38, are simultaneously broken, then the circuitleading to the motor is opened and rotation of the arms terminated. Thusif during actuation of the machine a selected container has not yet beenproperly positioned in the scoop or hand 26, the switch 53 cannot beactuated simultaneously with the selected breaker switch and the armswill continue to rotate, and thus jamming by improper positioning on thetrap door is prevented. By this same expedient return of a coin is alsoprovided if the machine does not contain any of the selected containersor their supply is exhausted. As previously stated the deposited coin isreturned if'the circuit is not broken in a predetermined time, and thusif no container of a selected class is engaged by a respective scoop,even though a scoop linger breaks the selected arm the circuit is notbroken for failure of the switch 53 to be simultaneously actuated, andthe arms continue to revolve until the circuit is broken by the returnof the coin.

While I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my selective vendingmachine and described the parts and methods of operation thereof indetail.` it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that furthermodincations may be made in the general structure and in-the detailedparts and their arrangement without departing from the spirit of myinvention; and I therefore donot wish to be restricted thereto except asso limited by the appended claims.

Iclaim as my invention:

l. A selective vending apparatus comprising a xed platform adapted tosupport a plurality of classes of commodities in individual .containersto be dispensed, an annular retaining wall extending from saidA platformand enclosing a disclike area thereof, a delivery chute depending fromsaid enclosed area and having an entrance door in the plane of saidplatform, a plurality ofv substantially radially extending revolvablearms extending over said disc-like area, a shaft extending axiallythereof, to which said arms are secured, said arms being adapted to holdsaid containers in segregated classes between adjacent arms, the saidarms comprising arcuate portions adapted during rotation thereof todeflect the containers outwardly towards said wall and formed withengaging end portionsadapted to receive and retain duringr rotationindividual containers, means for rotating said shaft andthe armsextending therefrom, and means for selectively delivering individualcontainers from said end portions to said delivery chute.

2. A selective vending apparatus comprising a xed platform adapted tosupport a plurality of classes of commodities in individual containersto be dispensed, an annular retaining wall extending from said platformand enclosing a disclike area thereof, a delivery chute depending fromsaid .enclosed area and having an entrance door in the plane of saidplatform, aplurality of substantially radially extending revolvable armsextending over said disc-like area, a shaft extending axially thereof,to which said arms are secured, said arms being adapted to hold saidcontainers in segregated classes between adjacent arms, each of the saidarms comprising an arcuate portion extending from said axis over saiddisc to a point substantially the width of a container from said walland continuing thereto in the form of an engaging end portion, the` saidarms during rotation being adapted to deflect the containers towardssaid wall and t0 cause individual containers to be lodged therebetweenand said engaging en'd portions, means for rotating said arms, and meansfor selectively delivering an individual container engaged by one ofsaid end portions.

3. A selective vending apparatus comprising a fixed platform adapted tosupport a plurality of classes of commodities in individual containersto be dispensed, an annular retaining wall extending from said platformand enclosing a disc-like areathereof, a delivery chute depend-A ingfrom said enclosed area and having an entrance door in the plane of saidplatform, a plurality of substantiallyradially extending revolvable armsextending over said disc-like area,

a shaft extending axially thereof, to which said,

arms are secured, said arms being adapted to hold said containers insegregated ,classes between adjacent arms, each of the said armscomprising an arcuate portion extending from said axis over said disctoa point substantially the width of aV container from said wall andcontinuing thereto in the form of an engaging end portion, the said armsduring rotation being adapted to deflect the containers towards saidwall and to lected engaging end arm y registry with said trap door,means for simultanecause individual-containers to be lodged therebetweenand said engaging end portions, means for rotating said arms, meansforterminating rotation of said arms in a predetermined relationshipwhereby a single container of a selected class is positioned on saiddoor by means of one of said. end portions, and means for thereuponopening said door.

4. A selective vending apparatus comprising a xed platform adapted tosupport a plurality of classes of commodities in individual containersto be dispensed, an annular retaining wall extending from .said platformand enclosing a disclike area thereof, a deliverychute `depending fromsaid enclosed area and having an entrance trap door in the plane of saidplatform, a plurality of substantially radially extending revolvablearms extending over said disc-like area, a shaft extending axiallythereof, to which said arms are secured, said arms being adapted to holdsaid containers in segregated classes between adiacentvarms, the saidarms being adapted by rotation thereof to deiiect said containerstowards said wall and being formed with engaging end portions adapted toreceive and hold therein adjacent to said wall individual containers,`means for rotating said arms, means for terminating rotation of saidarms at a point where a preselected engaging end arm portion ispositioned in registry with said trap door, and means for simultaneouslyspringing said trap door to permit selective 'delivery from said disc tosaid delivery chute.

5. .A vselective vending apparatus comprising a fixed platform adaptedto support a plurality of classes of commodities in individualcontainers to be dispensed, anannular retaining wall extending from saidplatform and enclosing a disclike area thereof, a delivery chutedepending from said enclosed area and having an entrance trap door inthe plane oi said platform, a plurality of substantially radiallyextending revolvable arms extending over said disc-like area, a shaftextending axially thereof, to which vsaid arms are secured, said armsbeing adapted to hold said containers in segregated classes betweenadjacent arms, the said arms being adapted during rotation thereof todeflect said containers towards said wall and being formed with engagingend portions adapted to receive and hold therein adjacent to said wallindividual containers, means for rotating said arms, means forterminating rotation of said arms at a point where a preseportion ispositioned in ously springing said trap door to permit selectivedelivery from said disc to said delivery chute, and means in associationwith said trap door adapted to prevent successive operation of saidmachine when the trap door vis depressed from the plane of the disc.

6. A selective vending apparatus comprising a fixed platform adapted tosupport a plurality of classes of commodities in individual containersto be dispensed, an annular retaining wall extending from said platformand enclosing a disclike area thereof, a delivery chute depending fromsaid enclosed area and having an entrance door in the plane of saidplatform, a plurality of 'substantially radially extending revolvablearms extending over said disc-like area, a shaft {extending axiallythereof, to which said armsare secured,'said arms being adapted Ato holdsaid containers in segregated classes between adjacent arms, each of thesaid arms comprising an arcuate portion extending from axis over saiddisc to a point substantially the width of a container from said wall,continuing thereto in the form of an engaging hand portion andterminating in a ringer portion extending therefrom and radially oversaid wall, the said arms during rotation being adapted to deflect thecontainers towards said wall and to cause individual containers to belodged therebetween and said hand portions, means for rotating saidarms, means adapted to be actuated by said ngers to terminate rotationof said arms when a container of a selected class is positioned on saidentrance door and said door` permitted to be depressed thereby fordelivery passage therethrough.

7. A coin controlled selective vending apparatus comprising a xedplatform adapted to supl port a plurality of classes of commodities inindividual containers to be dispensed, an annular retaining wallextending from said platform and enclosing a disc-like area thereof, adelivery chute depending from said enclosed area and having a normallyclosed entrance trap door in the plane of said platform, a plurality ofsubstantially radially extending revolvable arms extendin segregatedclasses between -adjacent arms,

each of the said arms comprising an arcuate portion extending from saidaxis over said disc to a point substantially the width of a containerfrom said wall, continuing thereto in the form of an engaging handportion and terminating in a nger portion extending upwardly therefromand radially outward over said wall, the said arms during rotation beingadapted to deflect the containers towards said wall and to causeindividual containers to be lodged therebetween and said engaging handportions, means including a motor for rotating said arms,coin-controlled means to initiate the operation oi the motor, meansadapted to be actuated by said nger portions when rotated intocontacting engagement therewith to selectively terminate the rotation ofsaid arms at a point where a container of a selected class is positionedon said trap door, and means adapted to spring said trap door to permitsaid selected container to drop through said delivery chute.

ARTHUR E. SIEHRS.

